York County commissioners approve pay increase for poll workers

York County commissioners on Wednesday approved an increase for primary and Election Day poll workers.

Nikki Suchanic, the county’s director of elections and voter registration, requested a $25 increase per election for judges of election and a $5 increase for all other poll workers, including for majority and minority inspectors, clerks and constables.

She provided a chart of what other counties pay their workers, showing that York County pays less then Dauphin, Lancaster, Adams and other counties. She also said the York County workers earn less than the federal minimum wage.

Judges of election will receive $125, while the others will earn $100, beginning in 2014.

York County Commissioner Doug Hoke said poll workers can come in around 6 a.m. and are doing work after the polls close at 8 p.m

“We’re talking about people committing, possibly 14, 15 hours to come out and provide this service to the community,” Hoke said.

Suchanic said she’s worked in the office for about 15 years, and the compensation rate hasn’t changed during that period.

“So I think it’s about time that we increase it,” Suchanic said.

She also said poll workers have increased responsibility, citing the state’s new voter ID law as an example.

Suchanic said judges of election and majority and minority inspectors are elected positions.

By the numbers

159 polling places in York County;

850 – about how many poll workers there typically are per primary or election;

$7,430 – how much the increase is estimated to cost per primary or election.